As Nigerian workers join their counterparts across the globe to mark this year edition of Workers’ Day in the face of coronavirus pandemic, the Vice President of IndustriALL Global Union, Comrade Issa Aremu has advocated for social protection through comprehensive health insurance for all workers and citizens.
Comrade Aremu described the workers protection as a matter of right and should start now, saying that Covid 19 has raised the noise level of lives and livelihoods.
“COVID-19 pandemic no doubt raises the noise level of lives and livelihoods. But Malaria kills 100,000 annually in Nigeria. More than Corona Virus! And Malaria has cure which many poor people can hardly afford because thanks public health has collapsed. Job related deaths must be of concern to all” he said.
While stressing that workers are prone to work related deaths, Aremu explained that International Labour Organisation (ILO) statistics indicate that one worker dies every 15 seconds worldwide, 6300 workers die everyday and an average of two million three hundred thousand workers die annually as a result of work related accidents and diseases.
He said in a vehement term that more people die at work than at wars, and called for an urgent need to protect and advance livelihoods.
Aremu who is also a member of the National Institute, Kuru Jos, hailed organized labour for working under the most difficult conditions and for rising to defend the right to pay, wages and jobs under the lock down.
“IndustriALL Secretariat in Geneva salutarily coordinates the efforts of affiliates in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on sectors and regions, sharing the best responses. I salute the leadership of NLC and TUC for ensuring that President Buhari’s directive that all workers should be paid as at when due during the lock down is respected by all employers in both public and private sectors” he said.
He said the labour situation room is novel and timely to promote the use of the existing collective bargaining and social dialogue in ensuring employers and government do not shift the burden of the pandemic on workers.
He commended the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), under the Ag. Executive Chairman, Nta Ekpeyong, for proactively initiating improved COVID-19 allowances for medical doctors and other health workers allowances, particularly for those in the frontline of the fight against COVID-19, starting from March 2020.
“The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, led the government team with doctors and other health workers to effect payment from March 2020. However the commission must also initiate reliefs for all workers to cope with the current challenges of survivals, he said.
He called on Government, captains of industries and all employers to recognize and dignify labour, saying that this COVID-19 pandemic shows that Labour not only creates wealth but saves and nurtures lives.
“For the Post COVID-19, Governments and businesses must stop underrating workers but see them as partners in development, adding “Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, reported that not less than 40 health workers in Nigeria tested positive for COVID-19.
“Some have actually died in both public and private hospitals. Better late than never: Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 (PTF) had initiated the Life Insurance cover to the frontline workers on COVID-19 for a maximum of 5000 health workers who are employed to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The premium in the sum of N112,500,000 is however still token given the risks to irreplaceable lives” he added.
Comrade Aremu therefore gave kudos to President Muhammadu Buhari by coming out with executive directive that Federal government would “not tolerate any human rights abuse by our security agencies” jus as he regretted few reported incidences of violations.
“The point cannot be overstated that Security workers are also frontline workforce who must be motivated, trained and retrained for effective service delivery. Indeed all citizens have legitimate claim to national government interventions in protecting lives and livelihood through unconditional cash benefits and palliatives” he said.
He advised Nigeria and Africa not to waste the lessons of the current lock down, saying that it’s time to heed the advice of Godwin Emefiele, Governor of CBN and turn COVID-19 TRAGEDY into an OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW NIGERIA.
“We must urgently diversify the economy, beneficiate, add value and create new Decent millions jobs. Produce what we consume starting with face masks, sanitizers and ventilators and items in the health value chains. Post Corona Virus Nigeria should be less dependent on imports, grants and aids and feverish loans but rely on domestic savings and local investment” the statement read in part” Aremu said.
End
